Last week, I attended Social Media Marketing World and Podcast San Diego. Both were incredibly valuable … getting the big picture *future* direction, some tactical tips, making new friends and having a lot of fun.
It also meant leaving my 2 daughters for 3 1/2 days which I’ve only done a handful of times in 7 years. (I know) I made the decision to leave the conference early on the last day to watch my daughter STAR in her 2nd grade school “Bugs” play. By STAR, I mean deliver her one line with enough oomph to rock the room. (smile)
While I wouldn’t have ever wanted to miss it, I was confronted with a difficult decision to make as a mom and a business owner. Miss out on 1/4 of the conference I really wanted to attend and which I invested in or miss my daughter’s first school play.
My inner dialogue went something like this …
I hardly ever leave my girls.
I haven’t been to a conference other than to speak since before they were born.
My business is growing, social media is changing fast and I want to stay on the cutting edge … this is something I need to do… and want to.
This is the 1 conference for ME this entire YEAR.
It is local so I don’t have travel time, too.
I don’t take time to put *me* first and network in-person despite knowing these are the relationships that are going to help me in business and in turn, help my family.
But, how could I miss my daughter’s first school play?
There will be more.
Grant (husband) can record it. It’ll be like I was there.
Buuuut, it really won’t.
Sigh.
Addy (daughter): “I wish you could come. Why do you have to work?” (read: why are you choosing something else over me?)
(Guilt) I’m going! That’s it, decision made.
A bit frightening behind the scenes, huh? For those of you who have been asking me to share more of my personal stories, be careful what you wish for. (ha, ha)
As I sat, teary-eyed during her performance, I knew I made the right choice … for me and for her. And although I recognize I won’t always make the *right* choice for each person in my family unit, we as mothers and entrepreneurs have the flexibility to choose. For that, I’m grateful.
I wanted to share this with you because I know many of you, besides choosing to start your business because of an amazing idea also chose to be an entrepreneur because of this freedom and flexibility.
And, whether the next choice you need to make is an easy or hard one, a want or a need, it is ultimately yours to make.
Okay, I feel like the Star Spangled Banner should start playing now.
I’d love to hear how you manage the wants and needs in your life as a mom entrepreneur. Share your mom entrepreneur guilt story in the comments below.
One Response
OMG, can I relate to this post Rachel. There a lot of tradeoffs and choices when you’re a mom and an entrepreneur. I’m a mother of 3 and starting a new business and it was spring break last week. I had to try to juggle taking them on vacation, working, taking conference calls from our car–it was crazy!!. My husband took a photo of me working on my computer with two cups of coffee by me while the kids bowled! The kids great about it, but there are just not enough hours in the day! Plus I find myself losing stuff more because I’m juggling so much! But you know what, we all figure it out, don’t we?? Thanks, Karen@newwallet.com